Gaza, 3 March 2025 — On Sunday, 2 March 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the closure of all crossings into Gaza and halted the entry of humanitarian aid and supplies into the occupied territory. This decision, providing further evidence that the genocide in Gaza is far from over, coincides with the conclusion of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.

Despite the fragile ceasefire in effect since 19 January 2025, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has remained catastrophic. Fifteen months of relentless Israeli bombings have systematically destroyed and deliberately rendered inoperable most of the infrastructure necessary for sustaining life in Gaza, including hospitals, clinics, water and sanitation infrastructure, and the power grid. Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have returned to their habitual places of residence to find them in rubble.

Even during the ceasefire, while aid increased compared to pre-ceasefire levels, Israel continued to severely restrict the entry of humanitarian supplies into Gaza in violation of the agreement. For example, it was reported that Israeli authorities have continued to block the entry of temporary housing, including mobile homes and tents, as well as heavy machinery to remove rubble from hundreds of thousands of destroyed buildings. Last week, as the people of Gaza endured one of the coldest weeks in recent memory, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that seven Palestinian children had frozen to death, amid the lack of adequate housing and shelters. 

The closure of all crossings for the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza also puts more than 12,000 wounded and critically ill patients at imminent risk of death. With the local healthcare system devastated by 15 months of relentless Israeli attacks, medical patients urgently need treatment outside Gaza. Since the partial reopening of the Rafah border crossing on 1 February 2025, following nine months of closure and Israeli control since May 2024, only 1,109 wounded and sick—just 9% of the approximately 12,000 wounded and sick individuals who have obtained a medical referral from the Palestinian Ministry of Health—have been allowed to leave Gaza for treatment abroad.

Al Mezan considers the deliberate suspension of humanitarian aid to Gaza a genocidal act that violates the provisional measures orders issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case of South Africa v. Israel and a continuation of the war crime of starvation, for which the International Criminal Court (ICC) has previously issued an arrest warrant against Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Humanitarian aid must never be used as a bargaining chip in political negotiations, nor should it be conditioned on political or military actions. We remind that, as the Occupying Power, Israel is obligated under Articles 55 and 56 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to ensure the adequate provision of food, medical supplies, clothing, bedding, shelter, and other essentials necessary for the survival of the civilian population in occupied Gaza.

Al Mezan emphasizes that 17 months into the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza, Israel’s impunity has emboldened its leadership to continue violating international law, confident that they will not be held accountable.

This chronic impunity must end. States Parties to the Rome Statute must stop twisting international law to shield Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant from accountability and must execute the arrest warrants issued by the ICC. As foreseen by international law, States can and should also impose sanctions on Israel and against individuals and entities complicit in international crimes against Palestinians; implement a two-way arms embargo; and review and suspend bilateral agreements and diplomatic with Israel.